PSV seizes control of Dutch title race thanks to USMNT stars, Ajax collapse

New York Times

14-05-2025

PSV's Eredivisie title defense received a massive boost in dramatic fashion on Wednesday.
United States internationals Malik Tillman and Sergiño Dest played leading roles in a dominant PSV showing at home against Heracles Almelo, with the club winning 4-1 in the season's penultimate match. Tillman opened the scoring in the 18th minute before making it a double with a stellar long-range finish in the 40th, while he contributed an assist as well. Dest assisted on the other goal, his first goal contribution since returning from an ACL injury in early March.
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Just as vital was a result roughly 260 kilometers north of Eindhoven, as 10-man FC Groningen stunned Ajax — which entered the day atop the standings — with an equalizer in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time. Ajax, which had topped the league table since overtaking PSV on February 16 and once led the title race by nine points, has now seen its months-long lead fully expire following the 2-2 draw, with PSV now leading by a point.
PSV, which hit the 100-goal plateau in league play on Wednesday, has notched a far healthier goal differential than Ajax, with a +62 margin dwarfing their rivals' +33, Ajax had claimed command over the standings, though, in part thanks to winning both head-to-head battles: first at home in November before stunning PSV with a 2-0 win in Eindhoven on March 30.
However, Ajax has stumbled down the stretch, taking just one point from its three most recent matches entering Wednesday. It was briefly given a shock when Groningen equalized in the 52nd minute Wednesday, but former Manchester Untied loanee Wout Weghorst re-established Ajax's lead in the 68th minute. The result seemed safe in the third minute of stoppage time, as Groningen midfielder Luciano Valente was sent off for a challenge on England international Jordan Henderson.
The extra time as Valente exited and Henderson received treatment led to a dramatic and potentially decisive moment in the title race, though, as the blocked shot from a well-worked set piece fell to Thijmen Blokzijl for a stunning equalizer. As it stands, a win from PSV on the final day will be enough to thwart Ajax's hopes of returning to the top of the Netherlands' pecking order. Crazily enough, Ajax entered the day able to clinch the title, if it had won while PSV lost, and the Eredivisie trophy was present at its match in case that scenario unfolded. That may be the closest the club gets to that silverware this season, with PSV now in command of its title destiny.
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Arguably no team in Europe's top leagues is impacted more by Americans than PSV, with the 22-year-old Tillman and 24-year-old Dest joined by 22-year-old USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi, who saw his season end in late January due to a knee injury. U.S.-eligible right back Richy Ledezma, 24, is also part of the club, whose sporting director since 2023 has been former U.S. striker Earnie Stewart.
Tillman's brace brought him into a tie for second among PSV's goalscorers, with his 11 strikes in league play trailing Luuk de Jong's 13. Pepi also bagged 11 league goals before his abrupt end to the season, while Tillman added three and Pepi two to PSV's Champions League campaign. Tillman's league goal tally also marks a single-season career best, which was previously 10 (on loan with Rangers in 2022-23)
20/10 – 22-year-old Malik Tillman (20 goals, 12 assists) is one of two players under 23 years old to record 20 goals and 10 assists over the last two Eredivisie seasons (Johan Bakayoko). Promising. pic.twitter.com/Ac6FWl2bW1
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) May 14, 2025
All games in the Eredivisie's final matchday kick off concurrently on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Both remaining title hopefuls will have their matches streamed stateside on ESPN+, with PSV visiting 11th-ranked Sparta Rotterdam while Ajax will host 6th-ranked FC Twente. Both are already assured places in the 2025-26 Champions League league phase, as the Eredivisie now enjoys two automatic berths in the field as part of the competition's recent restructuring.